Unaccepted Records

One bird in partial breeding plumage (1988-88; formerly 90-68) on 9 Jan. 1988, Madison: Mississippi River levee, about 3 mi. S of Delta. The identification was based primarily on a "yellow face that contrasted sharply with
black facial markings and red nape." The observer was not confident of the identification because of the
rather brief observation (less than a minute) and had no prior experience with that species. The
Committee believed that the details were not sufficient (bird not heard, tail pattern not described) to
eliminate Lapland Longspur (C. lapponicus), which could show a similar head pattern by late winter.